Even That Abyss
"In that case, I'll activate the installed magic circle! Demonic Contract - Bone-Deep Grudge!"
The moment the attack from [Apache] was declared, Muller flipped over the card he had set face-down.
"As long as this magic circle exists, any attack declaration by a player who recovered Soul Points due to my card's effect this turn is negated."
Attack Declaration Negated
The missile, hurtling forward with enough force to incinerate [Mine - Ralquia] in one go, lost its momentum and tumbled harmlessly to the ground.
A rattling sound echoed as invisible chains once again bound the wrists of both players.
"Bardi. You recovered Soul Points this turn due to my Self-Imposed Snare effect. Therefore, your attack declaration this turn is negated."
"Hmm, this really limits Bardi's options. He can either summon a creature or attack—it's forcing him to choose one or the other."
"But~ next turn, he should be able to attack, right~? As long as he doesn't summon any new creatures~."
Adella offered her hopeful take, but Eden shook his head firmly, his expression grave.
"No, Professor Muller undoubtedly has his next move prepared. Something like a card that forces Bardi to recover Soul Points, for instance."
"Ugh~ this is frustrating~."
Adella furrowed her delicate brows at Eden's rebuttal. Alessia, listening from the side, felt much the same.
"Cunning ploy... He's planning to sever our limbs one by one, is he."
"Eek...! It, it seems that way, Your Highness...!"
Summoning [Nautilus] or [Gustav Dora] might allow Muller to break through the board he'd so carefully set, but that creepy man surely knew as much. Whoever orchestrated this duel had likely passed on info about the cards Ricardo had already used.
More than anything, summoning a Dragon creature would bring that backlash crashing down on Ricardo again. That worried Alessia the most.
Heh heh... I know all about it, Bardi. Your deck is built around Machine-type creatures.
As Alessia suspected, Muller had prepared countermeasures for Dragon creatures as well.
Uniform creature types or attributes maximized synergy with Support Cards, but they also created glaring weaknesses—easy targets for counters.
No matter how grand your Dragons are, they won't overpower me...!
"I end my turn. At this moment, Rusty Factory accumulates another Factory Gauge. Machinery's Small Peak - Apache provides 3 Factory Gauge!"
Ding—! Ding—! Ding—! Vrooom—!! Screeech... Boom!
As if regretting its failure to eliminate [Ralquia], [Apache]—its compound eyes of dozens of cameras flickering—vanished back into the Rusty Factory. The factory's gauge now pointed to 7.
"Heh heh..."
Muller, drawing his card for his next turn, gazed at it and let out a sinister chuckle. The air felt heavier than before, though Ricardo dismissed it as imagination.
"My turn. I'll summon Mine - Micyuna."
Following [Bhulratha] and [Ralquia], another demon emerged from the thick fog.
Its form was even more grotesque than the previous two. Swollen flesh bulkier than [Ralquia]'s resembled a balloon, horns sprouting across its body writhing like tentacles.
"Micyuna's rank is 2. It avoids Self-Imposed Snare's demerit thanks to Ralquia's special ability, but it can still recover Soul Points."
[Nico Muller]
Soul Points: 5,500 → 6,500
"Having recovered Soul Points, I can't attack due to Bone-Deep Grudge's effect. Ah, what a shame."
He knew full well Ricardo's side had the 2,500-status [Apache], yet Muller drawled mockingly.
"Now then, let's see... I'll play this card!"
Muller selected one from his hand and placed it on the Battle Table.
"Demonic Contract - Ruin! As long as this exists, both players must tribute one creature at the start of each turn. In exchange, they recover 500 Soul Points per rank of the tributed creature."
"Ugh~ So the Soul Point recovery card finally showed up~."
"And next turn, Ricardo's only creature to tribute is Apache. He'd lose his hard-earned high-rank summon and still be blocked from attacking by Bone-Deep Grudge."
Muller cackled, watching Ricardo's composed face subtly twist as he crossed his arms.
"I'll set one more magic circle, then end my turn. Ah, and Ralquia requires payment too."
[Nico Muller]
Hand: 1 | Soul Points: 6,000 | Mana Crystals: 3
A sinister bell tolled again, pushing the factory gauge to 10, but Ricardo silently drew from his deck.
"Heh heh heh... At this moment, Ruin's effect triggers. Now, Bardi! Send Apache to the graveyard!"
"......"
-Kiiiiieeek...!
As Ricardo retrieved [Apache]'s card from the table, the mechanical hornet's body crumbled into nothingness. The boy's crimson eyes watched it vanish without a word.
[Ricardo Bardi]
Soul Points: 7,000 → 8,500
The Demonic Contract fed on [Apache] to bolster Ricardo's life force, but it was utterly meaningless.
Muller had no intention of battling or chipping away at Ricardo's Soul Points.
"This also triggers Bone-Deep Grudge. You've recovered Soul Points this turn via my card's effect, Bardi, so no attacks for you."
"In that case, I'll activate Rusty Factory's effect."
Ding—! Ding—! Ding—! Screeech, thud! Screeech, thud!!
"Expending nine Factory Gauge to summon three Vision creatures: Lost Soldiers!"
Piercing noise rang out as three mechanical soldiers emerged from beyond the rusty factory zone, dripping black oil like blood. Muller spoke leisurely.
"Indeed, Vision creatures have no rank, so Self-Imposed Snare doesn't trigger... but is that all?"
He knew it wasn't, yet asked anyway—a glimpse of his sadistic pleasure in toying with foes.
"Activating Lost Soldier's special ability! 30% chance to add a Machine-attribute creature from the deck to hand. Only one per turn can use it, but the odds increase with each additional Lost Soldier on my field."
Three [Lost Soldiers] on Ricardo's field: 90% chance.
"It's coming!"
"Nautilus this time? Or Gustav Dora?"
"Or maybe, like the rumors say, a new Dragon...?"
"Either way, once it's summoned..."
The students buzzed excitedly at Ricardo's signature win condition.
"Lost Soldier's effect hits! Thus, I'll retrieve Machinery's Abyssal Dragon - Nautilus from my deck and tribute the three Lost Soldiers to summon it!"
Rumble...!
The [Lost Soldiers] gathered and disintegrated. From the wreckage, red camera eyes gleamed ominously.
-Kyaaaaaaaah—!!!
A Dragon blending whale and lizard burst forth in all its bizarre glory.
"Whoa, it's here!"
"Nautilus!"
Students who'd once cowered in fear now cheered the Dragon's majesty, enthralled.
Muller swallowed hard at the first Dragon he'd ever witnessed, but soon regained his smirk.
"At this moment, Self-Imposed Snare triggers. Now, Bardi. Send cards from your deck to the graveyard equal to Nautilus's rank."
"......"
Weeeeoooowooo...!
Ricardo's deck shrank to 32 cards once more.
As if sensing its master's peril drawing near, a haunting siren wailed across the entire Lost World.
"Plus Bone-Deep Grudge prevents your attack this turn. Whatever will you do now?"
"In that case, I'll activate Nautilus's special ability."
"Oh?"
"Forgo Nautilus's attack this turn to destroy one opponent card and deal 1,000 Soul Point damage!"
Ricardo's finger pointed at the invisible Demonic Contract still binding them both.
"The one I destroy: Demonic Contract - Self-Imposed Snare!"
"I see. Destroying Self-Imposed Snare stops the deck milling... troublesome. Very troublesome."
So I must block it. Muller grinned wickedly, and the three Mines cackled in unison.
"I'll activate the magic circle I set last turn!"
"A magic circle...?"
"Yes! This card is Acidic Storm!"
Rumble...!
Acidic Storm
Dark clouds suddenly blanketed the field. Swelling ominously, they erupted in a torrent of rain.
-Kyaaaaah...!
Crackle! Zap zap!
Acid rain corrosive enough to melt steel pelted Nautilus's intricate machinery, twisting its body in agony as sparks flew wildly.
"Acidic Storm..!"
"A card that counters Machine-attribute creatures!!"
"Correct. Acidic Storm is played by paying 1,000 of my Soul Points! While it's on the field, no Machine-attribute creature can activate special abilities! Their status drops by 500 as well!"
[Nico Muller]
Soul Points: 6,000 → 5,000
"Well, Bardi? It's still your turn."
"......"
Ricardo said nothing. But his blood-red eyes gleamed with an unprecedented chill.
And at the same time.
Weeeeoooowooo...!!
The dead world's scream was growing louder.